Racing
Black Type Advisory Group formed
New advisory committee formed to help reshape Australia’s pattern.
A number of Australia's most respected racing and bloodstock figures have been announced as members of a newly-formed group that will help reform the country's divisive Black-Type calendar.
Barry Bowditch, Sebastian Hutch, Antony Thompson, Andy Makiv, Adrian Hancock, Jon Freyer and Duncan Grimley make up the Black Type Advisory Group that has been charged with providing valuable independent feedback to the Racing Australia Board on matters related to the overall program of Listed and Group races in Australia.
The BTAG has been formed to help Australia reclaim ownership of the Black-Type calender, which was last year overtaken by the Asian Racing Federation owing to the pattern stalemate that has existed in Australia for several years.
Racing Australia chairman Rob Rorrison said the BTAG was an important step in the next step of the Australian Black Type list.
"We are delighted to have this highly credentialed group agree to provide their expertise at this critical time," Rorrison said.
"Their independent view will undoubtedly be of great value to both the PRAs and the Asian Pattern Committee as they consider the composition of the Australian Black-Type list."
Bowditch and Hutch are the respective bosses of Australia's two major auction houses, Magic Millions and Inglis, Thompson runs Widden Stud and is also the chairman of Aushorse, while Makiv is managing director at Godolphin Australia.
Freyer is bloodstock manager at Arrowfield Stud, Hancock is a respected figure from South Australia who also works at Magic Millions, while Grimley is a breeder who has occupied key roles throughout the industry over several decades.
Anyone who hold roles at Racing Australia, any state principal racing authority or racing clubs were ineligible for consideration for the BTAG.
A date for the BTAG's first meeting is yet to be announced.
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